Coalition’s emissions modelling shows little difference in economic impact of large or small cuts

Government's modelling of the cost of different post-2020 greenhouse emission targets reveal more ambitious cuts won't cost much more than modest ones

The Abbott government has commissioned its own secret modelling of the economic cost of different long-term greenhouse emission targets to be debated by cabinet on Monday, and it is understood to show more ambitious goals would not cost much more than modest ones.

The environment minister, Greg Hunt, went on the attack against Labor on Monday after the Daily Telegraph reprised 2013 modelling for the Climate Change Authority on the costs of cutting emissions by between 40% and 60% of 2005 levels by 2030.